diff --git a/api/cli/internal/context.go b/api/cli/internal/context.go
index d5314bd32d..b871fd02b9 100644
--- a/api/cli/internal/context.go
+++ b/api/cli/internal/context.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/mandelsoft/goutils/errors"
 	"github.com/mandelsoft/goutils/general"
+	"github.com/mandelsoft/vfs/pkg/osfs"
 	"github.com/mandelsoft/vfs/pkg/vfs"
 
 	"ocm.software/ocm/api/config"
@@ -39,6 +40,12 @@ type FileSystem struct {
 	vfs.FileSystem
 }
 
+var _ osfs.OsFsCheck = (*FileSystem)(nil)
+
+func (f *FileSystem) IsOsFileSystem() bool {
+	return osfs.IsOsFileSystem(f.FileSystem)
+}
+
 func (f *FileSystem) ApplyOption(options accessio.Options) error {
 	options.SetPathFileSystem(f.FileSystem)
 	return nil
diff --git a/api/utils/template/gotmpl.go b/api/utils/template/gotmpl.go
index e6c0acd11c..542d90311e 100644
--- a/api/utils/template/gotmpl.go
+++ b/api/utils/template/gotmpl.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	Register("go", func(_ vfs.FileSystem) Templater { return NewGo() }, `go templating supports complex values.
+	Register("go", func(_ vfs.FileSystem, _ TemplaterOptions) Templater { return NewGo() }, `go templating supports complex values.
 <pre>
   key:
     subkey: "abc {{.MY_VAL}}"
diff --git a/api/utils/template/none.go b/api/utils/template/none.go
index aeb321d2b8..bb0856ba0a 100644
--- a/api/utils/template/none.go
+++ b/api/utils/template/none.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	Register("none", func(_ vfs.FileSystem) Templater { return NewSubst() }, `do not do any substitution.
+	Register("none", func(_ vfs.FileSystem, _ TemplaterOptions) Templater { return NewSubst() }, `do not do any substitution.
 `)
 }
 
diff --git a/api/utils/template/registry.go b/api/utils/template/registry.go
index 44cee97318..db14434f1f 100644
--- a/api/utils/template/registry.go
+++ b/api/utils/template/registry.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/mandelsoft/goutils/errors"
+	"github.com/mandelsoft/goutils/general"
 	"github.com/mandelsoft/vfs/pkg/vfs"
 
 	"ocm.software/ocm/api/utils"
@@ -13,11 +14,21 @@ import (
 
 const KIND_TEMPLATER = "templater"
 
-type TemplaterFactory func(system vfs.FileSystem) Templater
+type (
+	TemplaterOptions map[string]interface{}
+	TemplaterFactory func(system vfs.FileSystem, options TemplaterOptions) Templater
+)
+
+func (t TemplaterOptions) Get(name string) interface{} {
+	if t == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return t[name]
+}
 
 type Registry interface {
 	Register(name string, fac TemplaterFactory, desc string)
-	Create(name string, fs vfs.FileSystem) (Templater, error)
+	Create(name string, fs vfs.FileSystem, options ...TemplaterOptions) (Templater, error)
 	Describe(name string) (string, error)
 	KnownTypeNames() []string
 }
@@ -48,7 +59,7 @@ func (r *registry) Register(name string, fac TemplaterFactory, desc string) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (r *registry) Create(name string, fs vfs.FileSystem) (Templater, error) {
+func (r *registry) Create(name string, fs vfs.FileSystem, options ...TemplaterOptions) (Templater, error) {
 	r.lock.RLock()
 	defer r.lock.RUnlock()
 
@@ -56,7 +67,7 @@ func (r *registry) Create(name string, fs vfs.FileSystem) (Templater, error) {
 	if !ok {
 		return nil, errors.ErrNotSupported(KIND_TEMPLATER, name)
 	}
-	return t.templater(fs), nil
+	return t.templater(fs, general.Optional(options...)), nil
 }
 
 func (r *registry) Describe(name string) (string, error) {
diff --git a/api/utils/template/spiff.go b/api/utils/template/spiff.go
index 5d303f2bfe..8088ed2f07 100644
--- a/api/utils/template/spiff.go
+++ b/api/utils/template/spiff.go
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/mandelsoft/vfs/pkg/vfs"
 )
 
+const SPIFF_MODE = "mode"
+
 func init() {
 	Register("spiff", NewSpiff, `[spiff templating](https://github.com/mandelsoft/spiff).
 It supports complex values. the settings are accessible using the binding <code>values</code>.
@@ -23,9 +25,16 @@ type Spiff struct {
 	spiff spiffing.Spiff
 }
 
-func NewSpiff(fs vfs.FileSystem) Templater {
+func NewSpiff(fs vfs.FileSystem, opts TemplaterOptions) Templater {
+	s := spiffing.New().WithFileSystem(fs).WithFeatures(features.CONTROL, features.INTERPOLATION)
+
+	m := opts.Get(SPIFF_MODE)
+
+	if mode, ok := m.(int); ok {
+		s = s.WithMode(mode)
+	}
 	return &Spiff{
-		spiffing.New().WithFileSystem(fs).WithFeatures(features.CONTROL, features.INTERPOLATION),
+		s,
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/api/utils/template/subst.go b/api/utils/template/subst.go
index e8778e0fe4..e504aa87c3 100644
--- a/api/utils/template/subst.go
+++ b/api/utils/template/subst.go
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	Register("subst", func(_ vfs.FileSystem) Templater { return NewSubst() }, `simple value substitution with the <code>drone/envsubst</code> templater.
+	Register("subst", func(_ vfs.FileSystem, _ TemplaterOptions) Templater { return NewSubst() }, `simple value substitution with the <code>drone/envsubst</code> templater.
 It supports string values, only. Complex settings will be json encoded.
 <pre>
   key:
diff --git a/api/utils/template/template.go b/api/utils/template/template.go
index 84935bd963..a1223c0cf1 100644
--- a/api/utils/template/template.go
+++ b/api/utils/template/template.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ type Options struct {
 	UseEnv    bool
 	Templater Templater
 	Vars      Values
+	Options   map[string]interface{}
 }
 
 func (o *Options) DefaultMode() string {
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ func (o *Options) Complete(fs vfs.FileSystem) error {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	o.Templater, err = DefaultRegistry().Create(o.Mode, fs)
+	o.Templater, err = DefaultRegistry().Create(o.Mode, fs, o.Options)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/cmds/ocm/app/app.go b/cmds/ocm/app/app.go
index 300e64b52a..d0266a7f4d 100644
--- a/cmds/ocm/app/app.go
+++ b/cmds/ocm/app/app.go
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import (
 	"ocm.software/ocm/cmds/ocm/commands/ocmcmds"
 	"ocm.software/ocm/cmds/ocm/commands/ocmcmds/componentarchive"
 	"ocm.software/ocm/cmds/ocm/commands/ocmcmds/components"
+	"ocm.software/ocm/cmds/ocm/commands/ocmcmds/names"
 	"ocm.software/ocm/cmds/ocm/commands/ocmcmds/plugins"
 	"ocm.software/ocm/cmds/ocm/commands/ocmcmds/pubsub"
 	"ocm.software/ocm/cmds/ocm/commands/ocmcmds/references"
@@ -309,11 +310,17 @@ func newCliCommand(opts *CLIOptions, mod ...func(clictx.Context, *cobra.Command)
 					v = verbs.NewCommand(ctx, c.Verb, "additional plugin based commands")
 					cmd.AddCommand(v)
 				}
+				types := []string{objtype}
+				if len(names.Aliases[objtype]) != 0 {
+					types = names.Aliases[objtype]
+				}
+
 				s := cobrautils.Find(v, objtype)
 				if s != nil {
 					out.Errf(opts.Context, "duplicate cli command %q of plugin %q for verb %q", objtype, p.Name(), c.Verb)
 				} else {
-					v.AddCommand(plugin.NewCommand(ctx, p, c.Name, objtype))
+					cmd := plugin.NewCommand(ctx, p, c.Name, types...)
+					v.AddCommand(cmd)
 				}
 
 				if c.Realm != "" {
diff --git a/cmds/ocm/commands/ocmcmds/names/names.go b/cmds/ocm/commands/ocmcmds/names/names.go
index 24927051fd..652c1c46cf 100644
--- a/cmds/ocm/commands/ocmcmds/names/names.go
+++ b/cmds/ocm/commands/ocmcmds/names/names.go
@@ -18,3 +18,32 @@ var (
 	PubSub                 = []string{"pubsub", "ps"}
 	Verified               = []string{"verified"}
 )
+
+var Aliases = map[string][]string{}
+
+func init() {
+	add(
+		ComponentArchive,
+		CommonTransportArchive,
+		Components,
+		CLI,
+		Configuration,
+		ResourceConfig,
+		SourceConfig,
+		Resources,
+		Sources,
+		References,
+		Versions,
+		Plugins,
+		Action,
+		RoutingSlips,
+		PubSub,
+		Verified,
+	)
+}
+
+func add(aliases ...[]string) {
+	for _, a := range aliases {
+		Aliases[a[0]] = a
+	}
+}
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 19f980574b..adf091b5dc 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
           inherit (pkgs) stdenv lib ;
         in
         {
-          ${pname} = pkgs.buildGoModule.override { go = go_1_23; } rec {
+          ${pname} = pkgs.buildGoModule.override { go = pkgs.go_1_23; } rec {
             inherit pname self;
             version = lib.fileContents ./VERSION;
             gitCommit = if (self ? rev) then self.rev else self.dirtyRev;
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 30aed1f5f5..624f4e6d99 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ require (
 	github.com/mandelsoft/filepath v0.0.0-20240223090642-3e2777258aa3
 	github.com/mandelsoft/goutils v0.0.0-20240915132328-95975bffaef0
 	github.com/mandelsoft/logging v0.0.0-20240618075559-fdca28a87b0a
-	github.com/mandelsoft/spiff v1.7.0-beta-5
-	github.com/mandelsoft/vfs v0.4.4-0.20240915223828-8bc9369139c8
+	github.com/mandelsoft/spiff v1.3.0-beta-7.0.20241014123229-b7af70637d7b
+	github.com/mandelsoft/vfs v0.4.4
 	github.com/marstr/guid v1.1.0
 	github.com/mikefarah/yq/v4 v4.44.3
 	github.com/mitchellh/copystructure v1.2.0
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index e96f41841d..eee1dff54d 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -694,10 +694,10 @@ github.com/mandelsoft/goutils v0.0.0-20240915132328-95975bffaef0 h1:MtIgCrVzBP5t
 github.com/mandelsoft/goutils v0.0.0-20240915132328-95975bffaef0/go.mod h1:9TJgkwSY43RWHiIAAz7fL8SEIHf0L13Pk4w8fDIt+i4=
 github.com/mandelsoft/logging v0.0.0-20240618075559-fdca28a87b0a h1:MAvh0gbP2uwKmf7wWCkYCzrYa6vPjBvYeGhoUlVHwtI=
 github.com/mandelsoft/logging v0.0.0-20240618075559-fdca28a87b0a/go.mod h1:uO460C1lIB3IOOgrbXhAlz3AKsOv4T2K6ALBn3PwuSg=
-github.com/mandelsoft/spiff v1.7.0-beta-5 h1:3kC10nTviDQhL8diSxp7i4IC2iSiDg6KPbH1CAq7Lfw=
-github.com/mandelsoft/spiff v1.7.0-beta-5/go.mod h1:TwEeOPuRZxlzQBCLEyVTlHmBSruSGGNdiQ2fovVJ8ao=
-github.com/mandelsoft/vfs v0.4.4-0.20240915223828-8bc9369139c8 h1:tMAYF0nqqsoiUb6SZ+CneodHYTqQ0jLjL0PqOmKGBbo=
-github.com/mandelsoft/vfs v0.4.4-0.20240915223828-8bc9369139c8/go.mod h1:zmbhx2ueQc96buqNXg2S88McBMm2mNFNeyGSpSebrHw=
+github.com/mandelsoft/spiff v1.3.0-beta-7.0.20241014123229-b7af70637d7b h1:SyTUzkWcjNOZ1O1iULcTo65DzQbP8KDbKMre1aw/hKs=
+github.com/mandelsoft/spiff v1.3.0-beta-7.0.20241014123229-b7af70637d7b/go.mod h1:HXurS33cKPLXXAI3SYll+Z6QotB1yzFFDyOFZ4QODcA=
+github.com/mandelsoft/vfs v0.4.4 h1:hq+nI7NWzLLWR3Ii/w4agup4KpWjLpw6dAGtmvWr1Vw=
+github.com/mandelsoft/vfs v0.4.4/go.mod h1:3ODt1ze/dCdOJCbhHX8ARAw7l422fDZUhbt0wqplBRs=
 github.com/marstr/guid v1.1.0 h1:/M4H/1G4avsieL6BbUwCOBzulmoeKVP5ux/3mQNnbyI=
 github.com/marstr/guid v1.1.0/go.mod h1:74gB1z2wpxxInTG6yaqA7KrtM0NZ+RbrcqDvYHefzho=
 github.com/mattn/go-colorable v0.1.13 h1:fFA4WZxdEF4tXPZVKMLwD8oUnCTTo08duU7wxecdEvA=